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Abstract:

A vehicle seat including a side airbag system, in which an airbag body
accommodated inside a seatback of the vehicle seat is configured to
deploy when the vehicle is collided from a side thereof and a deployment
groove which is configured to improve the deployment of the airbag body
is formed to a cushion pad of the seatback, wherein a guide portion which
is configured to guide the deployment of the airbag body towards a
desired height is formed to the deployment groove.

Claims:

1. A vehicle seat including a side airbag system, in which an airbag body
accommodated inside a seatback of the vehicle seat is configured to
deploy when the vehicle is collided from a side thereof and a deployment
groove which is configured to improve the deployment of the airbag body
is formed to a cushion pad of the seatback, wherein a guide portion which
is configured to guide the deployment of the airbag body towards a
desired height is formed to the deployment groove.

2. The vehicle seat including a side airbag system according to claim 1,
wherein the guide portion is formed by increasing a depth of the
deployment groove partially in a height direction of the guide portion.

3. The vehicle seat including a side airbag system according to claim 1,
wherein the guide portion is formed by increasing a width of the
deployment groove partially in a height direction of the guide portion.

4. A vehicle seat including a side airbag system, the vehicle seat
comprising; a seatback including a cushion pad; an airbag body which is
accommodated inside the seatback and is configured to deploy when the
vehicle is collided from a side thereof; a deployment groove which is
formed to the cushion pad and is configured to improve the deployment of
the airbag body; and a guide portion which is formed to the deployment
groove and is configured to guide the deployment of the airbag body
towards a desired height.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application
No. 2011-049889 filed on Mar. 8, 2011, the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] Aspects of the present invention relate to a vehicle seat with a
side airbag system and more particularly to a vehicle seat with a side
airbag system in which an airbag body accommodated inside a seatback of
the vehicle deploys when the vehicle receives an impact from a side
thereof as a result of a side collision and a deployment groove is formed
inside the seatback to improve the deployment of the airbag body.

BACKGROUND

[0003] There is known a vehicle seat 201 with a side airbag system 240. In
the side airbag system 240, as shown in FIGS. 7, 9, when a vehicle is
collided from a side thereof, an airbag body 242 accommodated inside a
seatback 203 of the collided vehicle is inflated by a gas injected from
an inflator (not shown). The inflated airbag presses and opens a back pad
220 (not shown in FIGS. 7 and 9). When the airbag body 242 is inflated
further with the back pad 220 being pressed and opened, the airbag member
242 deploys to an outside of the seat back 203 along a trim (not shown)
provided to an inside of a side door while tearing a seat skin 203 which
covers a surface of the back pad 220. Here, JP-A-2007-176349 discloses a
vehicle seat 201 with a side airbag system 240 in which a deployment slit
222 is formed to a back pad 220 of a seatback 203 as shown in FIG. 8.
According to the configuration disclosed in JP-A-2007-176349, an airbag
body 242 can deploy reliably.

SUMMARY

[0004] However, in the disclosure of JP-A-2007-176349, the deployment slit
222 is formed so that its depth becomes uniform in a height direction of
the back pad 220 of the seatback 203. This causes a problem that it is
difficult to deploy the airbag body 242 to a target deployment position
(a deployment position indicated by imaginary lines in FIG. 9) in the
height direction of the seatback 203.

[0005] Aspects of the invention has been made with a view to solving the
problem, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle seat with a side
airbag system which enables an airbag body to deploy to a target
deployment position in a height direction of a seatback.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a
vehicle seat including a side airbag system, in which an airbag body
accommodated inside a seatback of the vehicle seat is configured to
deploy when the vehicle is collided from a side thereof and a deployment
groove which is configured to improve the deployment of the airbag body
is formed to a cushion pad of the seatback, wherein a guide portion which
is configured to guide the deployment of the airbag body towards a
desired height is formed to the deployment groove.

[0007] According to this configuration, the airbag body can deploy so as
to pass by a protection reference point within 10 milliseconds. Namely,
the airbag body can reliably deploy to a target deployment position in a
height direction of the seatback.

[0008] The guide portion may be formed by increasing a depth of the
deployment groove partially in a height direction of the guide portion.

[0009] According to this configuration, the guide portion can easily be
formed.

[0010] The guide portion may be formed by increasing a width of the
deployment groove partially in a height direction of the guide portion.

[0011] According to this configuration, the guide portion can easily be
formed.

[0012] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a
vehicle seat including a side airbag system, the vehicle seat comprising;
a seatback including a cushion pad; an airbag body which is accommodated
inside the seatback and is configured to deploy when the vehicle is
collided from a side thereof; a deployment groove which is formed to the
cushion pad and is configured to improve the deployment of the airbag
body; and a guide portion which is formed to the deployment groove and is
configured to guide the deployment of the airbag body towards a desired
height.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is a side view of an inside of a front passenger seat
according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0018]FIG. 6 is a side view to which shows a state in which an airbag
body shown in FIG. 4 is deployed;

[0019]FIG. 7 is a side view of an inside of a front passenger seat
according to related art;

[0020] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of FIG.
7; and

[0021] FIG. 9 is a side view which shows a state in which an airbag body
shown in FIG. 7 is deployed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be
described with reference to the drawings.

First Exemplary Embodiment

[0023] Firstly, a first exemplary embodiment of the invention will be
described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. In the following description, a
"front passenger seat 1" will be taken as an example of a "vehicle seat
including a side airbag system." Additionally, when referred to in the
following description, upper, lower, front, rear, left and right mean
directions indicated as upper, lower, front, rear, left and right in the
accompanying drawings, that is, upper, lower, front, rear, left and right
directions based on the front passenger seat 1. This will also be the
same in a second exemplary embodiment that will be described later.

[0024] Firstly, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a schematic configuration of a
front passenger seat 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the
invention will be described. The front passenger seat 1 includes mainly a
seat cushion (not shown) and a seatback 3.

[0025] Here, the seatback 3 will be described. The seatback 3 includes a
back frame 10, a back pad 20 and a skin 30. The back frame 10 includes a
left side frame 12, a right side frame (not shown), an upper frame 16 and
a lower rod (not shown) and is formed in a substantially rectangular
frame. The back pad 20 is assembled to the back frame 10 so as to
encompass the back frame 10. The skin 30 covers a surface of the back pad
20. Meanwhile, since a well-known seat cushion may be used as the seat
cushion (not shown) of the front passenger seat 1, a detailed description
thereof will be omitted here.

[0026] An airbag module 40 is assembled to an outer side of the left side
frame 12. This airbag module 40 corresponds to a side airbag system
described in appended claims. An airbag body 42 (not shown in FIGS. 1 and
2) is accommodated in this airbag module 40 in a folded state. This
airbag body 42 is connected to an inflator (not shown) which is provided
inside the seatback 3 via a hose (not shown). This inflator (not shown)
is electrically connected to an ECU (not shown) which is provided inside
a vehicle to which the front passenger seat 1 is installed.

[0027] Meanwhile, among inner surfaces of the back pad 20, a deployment
groove 22 is formed to an inner surface of the back pad 20 which faces a
portion of the airbag module 40 where the airbag body 42 deploys (a front
portion of the airbag module 40) so as to extend along a height direction
thereof. By forming the deployment groove in this way, when the airbag
body 42 deploys, the airbag body 42 can deploy along a trim (not shown)
provided to an inside of a side door of the vehicle.

[0028] A layer of a protection material 26 which is impregnated with a
nonwoven fabric is formed on each of the inner surfaces of the back pad
20. According to this configuration, the shape of the back pad 20 can be
maintained. Additionally, the inner surfaces of the back pad 20 can be
protected.

[0029] A first guide portion 24 which is configured to guide the
deployment of the airbag body 42 towards a desired height is formed to
the deployment groove 22. The desired height means a height of a
protection reference point of a dummy mannequin M, for example. In a case
where a chest of the dummy mannequin M is a target to be protected, as
shown in FIG. 1, the protection reference point becomes a point A which
is 100 mm rearwards from a front end A1 of a rib M2 of the chest of the
dummy mannequin M.

[0030] The first guide portion 24 is formed by increasing a depth of the
deployment groove 22 partially in the height direction so that when the
airbag body 42 deploys, the airbag body 42 can pass by the point A within
10 milliseconds. The seatback 3 is configured in this way. The front
passenger seat 1 is configured of a well-known seat cushion (not shown)
and the above-described seatback 3.

[0031] Next, referring to FIG. 3, the function of the front passenger seat
1 will be described. When the side door of the vehicle receives a side
impact as a result of the vehicle being collided from the side thereof,
the ECU detects the occurrence of the side collision and transmits a
signal to inject gas to an inflator (not shown). Then, the airbag body 42
is inflated by the gas injected from the inflator (not shown) and presses
and opens the back pad 20 via the deployment groove 22 inside the
seatback 3.

[0032] When the airbag body 42 is inflated further with the back pad 20
kept pressed and opened, the inflated airbag body 42 deploys along the
trim (not shown) provided to the inside of the side door while tearing
the skin 30 which covers the surface of the back pad 20 (refer to FIG.
3). At this time, the airbag body 42 is inflated while being guided into
the first guide portion 24 of the deployment groove 22. Therefore, the
airbag body 42 deploys so as to pass by the point A, which is the
protection reference point, within 10 milliseconds.

[0033] The front passenger seat 1 of the first exemplary embodiment of the
invention is configured as described above. According to the
configuration, the first guide portion 24 which is configured to guide
the deployment of the airbag body 42 towards a desired height is formed
to the deployment groove 22. Accordingly, for example, the airbag body 42
can deploy so as to pass by the point A, which is the projection
reference point, within 10 milliseconds. Namely, the airbag body 42 can
reliably deploy to the target deployment position in the height direction
of the seatback 3.

[0034] Additionally, according to the configuration, the first guide
portion 24 is formed by increasing a depth of the deployment groove 22
partially in the height direction. Accordingly, the first guide portion
24 can easily be formed.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

[0035] Next, referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, the second exemplary embodiment of
the invention will be described. When compared with the front passenger
seat 1 of the first exemplary embodiment, a front passenger seat 101 of
the second exemplary embodiment differs in that a first guide portion 124
is formed in a different shape from that of the first guide portion 24 of
the first exemplary embodiment. Apart from the shape of the first guide
portion 124, the configuration of the front passenger seat 101 of the
second exemplary embodiment is the same or equivalent to that of the
front passenger seat 1 of the first exemplary embodiment, and therefore,
same reference numerals are given thereto in the drawings and repetitive
description will be omitted.

[0036] As will be obvious from FIGS. 4 and 5, the first guide portion 124
of the second exemplary embodiment is formed by increasing the width of
the deployment groove 22 partially in a height direction thereof. As with
the first guide portion 24 of the first exemplary embodiment, the first
guide portion 124 of the second exemplary embodiment is also formed so
that when the airbag body 42 deploys, the airbag body 42 can pass by a
point A within 10 milliseconds.

[0037] As in the case with the front passenger seat 1 of the first
exemplary embodiment, in the front passenger seat 101 of the second
exemplary embodiment, when a vehicle is collided from a side thereof, the
airbag body 42 deploys along a trim provided to an inside of a side door
of the vehicle while tearing the skin 30 which covers a surface of the
back pad 20 (refer to FIG. 6). As in the case with the front passenger
seat 1 of the first exemplary embodiment, the airbag body 42 is inflated
while being guided into the first guide portion 124 of the deployment
groove 22. Therefore, the inflated airbag body 42 deploys so as to pass
by the point A, which is the protection reference point, within 10
milliseconds.

[0038] The front passenger seat 101 according to the second exemplary
embodiment is configured as described above. According to this
configuration, the same function and advantage as those obtained by the
front passenger seat 1 of the first exemplary embodiment can be obtained.

[0039] The exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described
above. However, the invention is not limited to the above-described
exemplary embodiments.

[0040] In each exemplary embodiment, the "front passenger seat 1 (101)" is
described as an example of a "vehicle seat." However, the invention is
not limited thereto, and hence, the invention can also be applied to a
"driver seat" or a "rear passenger seat."

[0041] Additionally, the chest of the dummy mannequin M is described as
being the protection reference point which constitutes the protection
target. However, the invention is not limited thereto. The invention can
also be applied not only to the protection of the chest of the dummy
mannequin M but also to the protection of the hip thereof. In this case,
in addition to the point A, a point B (a hip point of the dummy mannequin
M) also constitutes a projection reference point. Then, in addition to
the first guide portion 24 (124), a second guide portion (not shown) is
also formed in the deployment groove 22 so that the airbag body 42 can
pass by the point A within 10 milliseconds and the point B within 8
milliseconds. The second guide groove (not shown) is also formed so as to
increase the depth of the guide groove 22 partially in the height
direction thereof in a similar manner to the manner in which the first
guide portion 24 (124) is formed.

[0042] Additionally, in each exemplary embodiment, as will be obvious from
FIG. 1, the guide portion 24 (124) is described as not penetrating
through the back pad 20 between the inside and outside thereof. However,
the invention is not limited thereto, and hence, the first guide portion
24 (124) may penetrate through the back pad 20 between the inside and
outside thereof.

[0043] Additionally, in each exemplary embodiment, the deployment groove
22 is described as being formed in a shape of a groove. However, the
invention is not limited thereto, and hence, the deployment groove 22 may
be formed in a shape of a slit.

Patent applications by TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA

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Patent applications in all subclasses Force-absorbing means incorporated into back